Your Questions

Q

Sorry to bother you with this, but like you I've lent or lost most of my Sharpe books down the years. I think there was a quote in one of your historical notes along the lines of '...but there was much bravery and so many dead'. Can you remember who said that and of what battle? I've sort of made it a feature of a review of 'Kokoda' (new Aussie war film - very much worth a look) and now I can't find it. Any help would be gratefully received. Thanks. Matt

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

You're thinking, I think, of Napier's famous epitaph on Col Ridge of the 5th Fusiliers who died in the capture of Badajoz: 'And no man died that night with greater glory, yet many died, and there was much glory.' Wow!

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell. I live in Winchester and am therefore loving the Saxon stories. I know that you have visited here and always "walk the ground". Are any of the Winchester places mentioned based on real places? Hild's Abbey (Hyde Abbey?!), Alfred's study (somewhere near the Buttercross?!), the Two Cranes tavern, perhaps? Thanks! Robert Courts

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

Not sure about the tavern! The rest are drawn from what is known about Saxon Winchester (which is a good deal), and I love the museum there! But there's still a lot we don't know, alas . . . . but I visit about once a year to try and keep everything fresh.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I am thinking about writing an historical novel about one of our more infamous and colourful English Civil War regicides. I wanted to offer you the name and resources but I see from your website that you don't encourage new book ideas. Shame, you could have really got your teeth into him and saved me a lot of work! However, I have a worry about mixing fact and fiction on the page. Do you get problems from living descendants and brain-dead historians who complain about inaccuracies or does your historical notes chapter give you a legal/moral get-out? There are living relatives of my 'hero' whom I wouldn't want to upset but on the other hand I don't want the observance of historical accuracy to put a straitjacket on a rollicking good tale. Please put my mind at rest. David

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

If you have a good source that says a real historical character was a moron, then go ahead and stick the knife in! If you're writing real people then you must stick to the known facts . . . and if you don't know that much about them, then placate the relatives by making him/her into a good guy. No, I don't get problems! And relatives (descendants) won't give you problems if your portrait is accurate.

Q

Hi Bernard, I am currently carrying out a third year English dissertation on four books about King Alfred, one of them being the Pale Horseman. I was hoping that you would be able to shed some light on a couple of themes I am working on. Where as the other authors have given Alfred a chivalric manner, would you say that your Alfred is more Realpolitik? Secondly, would you say that Alfred chooses to use religion when he wants, and ignores paganism if it suits him (when his son gets healed by Iseult). I am sorry if this is too long and a bit random but any help you could give would be great. Kind Regards Robert

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

I made up the Iseult passage, so don't confuse my fiction with reality! I don't know if Alfred was chivalrous (the concept is a bit later than the 9th Century), but we do know he was extremely pious, scholarly and sick, which to my mind does not paint a picture of a warrior-king. He was forced into war and he conducted that war with a great deal of intelligence, because he was, plainly, one of the most intelligent men or women to rule in England (Elizabeth I was another). My own impression is that Alfred would never prefer paganism to Christianity, but we are in murky waters because undoubtedly a vast amount of pagan superstition lasted in Britain well into the 17th Century (see Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic) - and when his own son's life was at stake? But that was fiction, and had no basis in fact. And yes, he indulged in realpolitik a lot - mainly by bribing the Danes instead of fighting them, though he did fight. He was a realist, knowing how far his power would go, and working to increase his power (especially by the burh system).

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell, Could you tell me what ever happened to Sharpe's daughter from the TV series? kind regards Nick

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

Antonia? I think it's possible he might see her again some day...

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'd just like to say that, after reading some of your comments on this site, I think that a lot of your personality comes out in Uhtred. Through the genetic link, do you think? My mother's family are from Newcastle - my mum named our house " Northumbria". It seemed a bit odd, seeing as we lived outside of Glasgow... I like to think we have a lot of Danish in our blood. All four daughters have red hair. And the VIking temperament when annoyed! I can't wait to read what happens next. Fortunately, I have a sister who is an editor at HarperCOllins in London, so she can smuggle me the next installment of Uhtred's adventures before it is released in the U.S. Thank you for all your wonderful stories. Fionna

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

A good mix! You're right, of course, that there's a huge amount of viking blood in Northumbria - and remember, Northumbria once extended into what is now lowland Scotland, so maybe your mother is just staking an ancient claim!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I have very much enjoyed reading your books. So much so that I am running out of material! Are there any other authors whose works you personally enjoy. I have read lots of naval fiction, and was hoping to find more land based narratives. thanks, Andrew

Submitted March 19, 2007

A

There are not nearly as many land-based narratives as seaborne stories . . . . so I'm pretty bereft of ideas. Allan Mallinson has a series running, but that mostly takes place after Waterloo (no reason not to try it!)

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I have read the book Redcoat. I was wanting to know if there was a movie made in reference to this book? I seem to get a lot more out of a book if I can read the book then watch the movie. Dawn Henry

Submitted March 19, 2007

A

There is no film of my book Redcoat.

Q

dear Sir, why did so many countries have blue uniforms? French, Portuguese, Danish... and what colour was the infantry tunics of the KGL on the whole? thankyou greatly for your time and I love your books! Chris G

Submitted March 19, 2007

A

That's an interesting question which I've never really thought about! I suspect the answer has a lot to do with the available dyeing techniques of the period . . . . maybe blue dye was cheap? I also suspect the range of primary colours was probably restricted . . . doubtless some sophisticated dyes were available, but were probably too expensive to use on uniforms. All of that is supposition! KGL infantry tunics were red - basically the same red as the British infantry (a sensible idea; if they'd worn some other colour they could easily be mistaken for an enemy unit in the confusion of battle).

Q

Hey--Long time fan and all that jazz--what I REALLY wanted to write to you about is to ask whether you have seen the recent BBC mini-series Robin Hood with Jonas Armstrong? If you haven't then at least watch one episode sometime. Richard Armitage, the actor playing Guy of Gisbourne, is like Richard Sharpe right off the page. He's tall and dark and he has the smirk and the bellow and...I mean, I can't watch him without thinking, hey look, it's Richard Sharpe! How I wish you could do films with him! Well, that's all for now--keep up the good work!~April

Submitted March 19, 2007

A

Sounds great! I promise to take a look. Thank you!